Cong blames govt for spread of jaundice

Bhubaneswar: Holding BJD government responsible for spread of jaundice in Balangir, Congress leader Narasingha Mishra today claimed the disease affected thousands due to deliberate neglect as the ruling party had lost the Assembly seat in last polls.

“Despite prior warning by us, the state government failed to take necessary steps for providing safe drinking water in Balangir. Jaundice spread as people were forced to drink contaminated water,” Mishra, Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly and MLA from Balangir, told reporters.

Stating that he himself had warned the government about possibility of jaundice breaking out in Balangir after the disease assumed alarming shape in Sambalpur, Mishra said about 40 per cent of people in Balangir were forced to take contaminated water due to inaction of state government.

Though the issue was also discussed in the Assembly at length, the government failed to ensure supply of safe drinking water in the town, the Congress leader said claiming that as per reports some deaths were also caused by the disease which affected thousands.

Accusing the BJD government of adopting step-motherly approach towards the area, Mishra said Balangir was neglected and discriminated against deliberately as the ruling party had lost the Assembly seat in the last general elections.

Stating that the chief minister and urban development minister were aware of the situation but failed to take preventive steps against jaundice, he said the damaged pipes must be repaired immediately to ensure supply of safe drinking water in the area.

Similarly, there should be more tube wells while all water reservoirs must be renovated, he said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and urban deelopment minister Pushpendra Singh Deo should tender public apology or step down for their failure to take steps for providing safe drinking water in Balangir, Mishra said. PTI SKN PR Accusing BJD government in Odisha of being a silent spectator to alarming spread of jaundice in Balangir in western Odisha, senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra today asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to tender public apology or step down for inaction.